Elegant Lucine Shell, Codakia distinguenda

Elegant Lucine Shell, Codakia distinguenda. Size: 7.3 cm (2.9 inches) x 6.4 cm (2.5 inches).  Shell collected off the beach at Cabo Real, Baja California Sur, October 2022.  Identification courtesy of Bob Hillis, Ivins, Utah.

The Elegant Lucine, Codakia distinguenda (Tyron, 1872), is a bivalve mollusk that is a member of the Lucinidae Family of Lucines. They are also known as the Distinguished Lucine and in Mexico as lucina elegante. The shell is sturdy with a round profile that are slightly inflated and have strong hinge teeth. The exterior surface is marked with narrow radiating lines, crossing concentric ribs. The shell has a white exterior and the interior is white with yellow centers, with a reddish-pink border. Elegant Lucine Shells reach 15 cm (5.9 inches) in length and 13 cm (5.2 inches).

Elegent Lucines are found buried in mud or muddy sand in shallow water, to depths up to 50 m (165 feet). They range from Alijos Rocks, Baja California Sur, on the west coast of the Peninsula, south to Peru, including the Clipperton, Cocos, Galapagos and Revillagigedo Islands. They are found throughout the Sea of Cortez from San Felipe, Baja California to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur.

Synonyms include Codakia colpoica, Codakia pinchoti, and Lucina distinguenda.